Log it, Graze it, or Watch it Burn

We are witnessing a rapid increase in fires that devastate our beautiful state, and this year is no exception. In Legislative District 8, for example, a significant portion of our land, hundreds of thousands of acres, has been needlessly consumed by fire. The sky is filled with ash and smoke, habitats for thousands of species have been destroyed, and countless animals have been killed or injured. The situation is urgent, and we must act now.

Some examples:

-Wapiti Fire, W of Stanley, 125K+ Acres Burned
Incident "Management": USFS

-Lava Fire, SW Cascade, 97K+ Acres Burned
Incident "Management": USFS

-Nellie Fire, E of Garden Valley, 50K+ Acres Burned
Incident "Management": USFS

-Snag Fire, E Cascade, 33K+ Acres Burned
Incident "Management": USFS

-Goat Fire, SE Cascade, 26K+ Acres Burned
Incident "Management": USFS

-Bulldog Fire, N of Garden Valley, 11K+ Acres Burned
Incident "Management": USFS

Fires have been getting out of control more on federally controlled land in Idaho; who is to blame?

From 1996 to 2003, sawmills were closed all across Idaho.

For decades, federal regulations and bureaucracy have vilified the logging and grazing way of life, and Idaho's federally 'managed' land is a prime example. These regulations have hindered our ability to manage our land effectively and have contributed to the increasing wildfire risk. It's time for a change.

If our land is not logged or grazed, 'fuel' (dead trees, overgrown grass, and other matter) begins to build up on the forest floor. This 'fuel' is a catalyst for wildfires, as the slightest spark can ignite a massive fire that overwhelmingly grows out of control. By increasing logging and grazing, we can effectively reduce this 'fuel' and mitigate the risk of such catastrophic fires.

These wildfires can grow out of control before our brave firefighters can assess the situation well.

Grazing is necessary because it cleans further fuel off the ground, which helps manage fire better. Federal agencies working with NGOs have been buying out or forcing ranchers to give up their grazing permits at an increasingly high rate. A couple of years ago, this happened to a sheep ranching company and, its grazing permit was about 88K acres in the Sawtooth/Salmon-challis national forests.

There are many examples of this in our state and our country, where water rights are pulled, and federal bureaucratic agencies use lawfare to push grazers of all kinds off the land. These permits to graze are property purchased and paid for by the permit holders.

The most effective way to manage our forests is to immediately increase logging and grazing in Idaho. I firmly believe that local control of public land is the only viable option. The best stewardship is always closest to the land and the people. We should not leave the fate of our land in the hands of distant bureaucrats who may not fully understand our unique industry and environment.

We need to expand the Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) in Idaho, which can be done immediately at the State level. The GNA allows the Idaho Department of Lands to complete forest restoration projects on federally "managed" lands and send them the bill.

Follow this link to learn more. Click in Idaho in the drop-down box to learn how little is being done to protect our land:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/farm-bill/gna

Coordination is outlined in the Federal Land Policy and Management Act and the National Forest Management Act. (FLPMA), which was implemented during the Clinton administration. It requires federal agencies to answer to local political subdivisions when decisions are made, or locals request it.

Bureaucratic agency employees, who are paid with your tax dollars, refuse to protect our land; it is incumbent upon Idahoans to move them aside and take care of our precious resources, the health and safety of our state, and its economic health.

Idahoans can and will do it. We will do it better.

I believe that the states' power will decide our country's future.

I will work to protect our state's sovereignty and achieve the Idaho First Agenda.

God Bless,

Christy Zito
Candidate LD8

“We need patriots who will serve in our state capitals to fight federal overreach and stand firm against those — in both parties — who prioritize seizing political power over representing constituents.” (State Freedom Caucus Network)